James G MacLean was the son of James and Esther MacLean. James MacLean was born in Moy County Tyrone on 17th September 1885. James at some stage moved to live in Garvagh. He was married to Kathleen MacLean. James was serving as a Writer (3rd class) on HMS Tipperary with the Royal Navy when he was killed in the Battle of Jutland 1 June 1916.
Further Information
James MacLean was the son of James and Esther MacLean. James MacLean and Esther Murdock were married on 28th November 1883 in the district of Newry & Mourne.
James Gayton MacLean was born in Moy, County Tyrone on 17th September 1885. James was the eldest of at least four children, the other three were born in the Newry area.
The family had moved to Newry by 1888.
Known family: James MacLean, Esther MacLean, James MacLean (born 17th September 1885, Moy), Gertrude Fanny MacLean (born 16th April 1888, Newry), Esther MacLean (born 10th November 1889, Newry), William MacLean (born 3rd December 1891, Newry).
The 1901 census lists James as age 15, living with the family at house 14 in Hill Street, Newry County Down. James had left school and was working as an apprentice clerk.
James MacLean joined the Royal Navy on 5th May 1904, enlisting for a period of 12 years.
James MacLean seved on many ships and locations during his time with the Royal Navy,
James was serving as a Writer (3rd class) on HMS Tipperary with the Royal Navy when he was killed in the Battle of Jutland 1 June 1916.
HMS Tipperary led the 4th Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland under Captain C. J. Wintour. Tipperary and her squadron pressed home determined torpedo attacks on the German main battle line as it escaped across the rear of the British fleet during the night action, starting at approximately 23:20 on 31 May 1916 . The 4th Flotilla sank the German light cruiser SMS Frauenlob, but Tipperary and many of the other British destroyers were sunk or badly damaged. These engagements took place at such close range that some of Tipperary's squadron were able to hit the German dreadnoughts with their small 4-inch guns, causing casualties that included command officers on the bridges. HMS Tipperary was sunk on 1 June 1916 by 5.9 inch (150 mm) fire from the secondary battery of the German dreadnought SMS Westfalen with the loss of 185 hands from her crew of 197.
Writer (3rd class) James MacLean has no known grave and is commemorated on Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent, England.
James MacLean is also commemorated on Garvagh War Memorial and also on the Roll of Honour in St Paul's Parish Church (Church of Ireland) in Garvagh.
On page 23 of the book, 'Garvagh & Aghadowey Heroes 1914-18' by Robert Thompson, it states that his mother and father were Esther and James MacLean of Moy and he was born at Moy on 17th September 1885. His father was a land steward to one of the big landowners in County Tyrone. He was married to a Kathleen MacLean.
